Diabetes — type 1 or type 2 — slowly changes the way blood and nerves reach your feet. Two simple consequences: small problems are harder to feel, and the body is slower to heal them. That’s why national guidelines recommend everyone with diabetes has a comprehensive foot assessment with a podiatrist at least once a year. The earlier we catch a problem, the smaller the problem stays.
At Ace Health Centre we tailor diabetic foot care Gold Coast to each patient.
What Diabetic Foot Care Assessment Includes
At Ace Health Centre your annual diabetic foot review with one of our Gold Coast podiatrists covers:
- Vascular check — pulses in the foot, skin temperature, capillary refill, and a Doppler if needed
- Neurological check — vibration, monofilament and reflex testing for early nerve change
- Skin and nail review — corns, calluses, fungal infection, ingrown nails, fissures
- Footwear and pressure check — looking for hot spots that could become ulcers
- Risk grading — low, moderate or high — which determines how often we should see you
Why “I Can’t Feel Anything Wrong” Is the Problem
Peripheral neuropathy — diabetic nerve damage in the feet — is silent. Patients often have no idea anything has changed until they step on something they shouldn’t have, or a shoe rubs a hole in the side of a toe without them noticing. By the time it’s painful, it’s usually advanced. Annual screening catches the loss of sensation while everything else still looks normal.
Small Things That Prevent Big Things
- Check your feet visually every day — top, bottom and between toes
- Don’t go barefoot, even at home
- Have your shoes assessed yearly — most diabetic foot wounds start as a footwear pressure point
- Keep skin moisturised; treat cracks and fissures early
- Never trim your own corns or calluses with a blade — see a podiatrist
- Treat any wound that hasn’t healed in two weeks as urgent
Custom Orthotics and Diabetic Feet
For higher-risk feet, soft, accommodative custom orthotics redistribute pressure away from bony hot spots. These devices have outstanding evidence for preventing the most common type of diabetic foot ulcer.
Bulk Billing for Eligible Patients
Patients with a Chronic Disease Management plan from their GP can access podiatry visits at Ace Health Centre with a small out-of-pocket cost. Bring your plan and Medicare card.
Common Questions
Do I really need to come in if my feet feel fine? Yes — that’s actually the most important time. Diabetic foot complications are largely silent in the early stages. The annual visit is a screen, not a treatment.
What should I bring? Your usual shoes, your medication list, your most recent HbA1c if you know it, and your Medicare card.
How long does it take? A standard diabetic foot assessment is 30–45 minutes. If we find something we want to action, we’ll book a follow-up rather than rush it.
Book This Year’s Diabetic Foot Assessment
If it’s been more than 12 months since your last podiatry visit, please don’t wait. Call (07) 5572 6222 or book online. It’s one of the highest-impact 30 minutes a person with diabetes can spend.
